July 25, 2016 4:50 PM

Ratliff: An education savings account is nothing more than an entitlement

SBOE Vice Chairman Thomas Ratliff argues against the latest school choice proposal: “The Texas Constitution requires the state to provide a ‘system of public free schools’ to its citizens. If a family chooses not to use it, they are not entitled to take their neighbor’s money and spend it as they please.”

When I read about the proposed “education savings account” idea being proposed, I cannot help but think of one word – entitlement. Is this an idea from President Obama? Nope. This is an idea from self-proclaimed limited government conservative types.

Let’s be clear. There aren’t “savings” in these accounts as much as there are “donations” or “entitlements” in them, because the recipient never would have paid enough taxes into the account in the first place.

Let me explain.

The full column by Thomas Ratliff is in the R&D Department.

By Thomas Ratliff